Basketball scheduling in the NCAA is a weird business. Sometimes you get a blue-blood matchup that feels like a heavyweight fight, and other times you get a game like ms valley vs texas—a contest that, on paper, looks like a total mismatch. Honestly, that’s exactly what it was when the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils rolled into Austin to face the Texas Longhorns at the Moody Center on November 16, 2024.
You’ve probably seen the score by now. Texas won 89-43. But the box score doesn't really tell the whole story of how these two programs, worlds apart in resources, actually shared the court for the first time in history.
Why the ms valley vs texas Matchup Was Historic
It’s kinda wild to think that these two teams had never played each other before 2024. Texas has been around forever, and Mississippi Valley State—an HBCU out of Itta Bena—has its own deep history (Jerry Rice played football there, for starters). When they finally met, it wasn’t just a random non-conference game; it was a record-setting afternoon for the Longhorns.
Texas head coach Rodney Terry was looking for a "get right" game after a shaky start to the season. They found it. The 46-point margin ended up being the third-largest victory ever recorded in the Moody Center. If you were there, you saw a Longhorns team that looked like they were playing against a practice squad in the second half.
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The Tale of Two Halves
If you only watched the first 20 minutes, you might’ve thought the Delta Devils had a chance to keep it respectable. Mississippi Valley State came out in a gritty zone defense that actually gave Texas some trouble. The Longhorns were cold. They shot just 8-of-18 from the floor in the first half.
Basically, it was ugly. Texas went into the locker room up 33-23. A 10-point lead against a SWAC opponent isn't exactly what Longhorn fans were hoping for. But then, the second half happened.
- The Shooting Streak: Texas went on an absolute tear, hitting 17 consecutive field goals. You don't see that often in college ball.
- Efficiency: They shot 77.8% in the second half. That’s the third-highest field goal percentage for a single half in the entire history of the Texas program, dating back to 1965.
- The Score: Texas outscored MVSU 56-20 in the final 20 minutes.
The Standout Performers in Austin
You can’t talk about ms valley vs texas without mentioning Arthur Kaluma and Tre Johnson. Both guys dropped 18 points. Kaluma, a senior forward, was a beast on the boards, snagging seven rebounds and basically doing whatever he wanted in the paint.
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Tre Johnson, the freshman phenom, showed why he’s a projected lottery pick. He didn't force things. Coach Terry even pointed out after the game that Tre doesn't "hunt shots." He just let the game come to him, which is a scary trait for a kid that young.
On the other side, it was a rough day for the Delta Devils. They shot 33.3% from the floor and a dismal 9.1% from behind the arc. When you're playing a top-tier SEC school, you just can't win if you're hitting one out of every ten three-pointers.
Key Stats You Should Know
- Points in the Paint: Texas owned this category 44-18.
- Fast Break Points: Longhorns took it 16-2.
- Turnovers: MVSU coughed it up 12 times, leading to 21 points for Texas.
- Rebounds: Texas dominated the glass with a +16 margin (35-19).
What Most People Get Wrong About These Games
A lot of fans call these "buy games" and write them off as boring. Sure, the check Texas writes to MVSU helps fund the Delta Devils' entire athletic department, but for the players, it’s a massive stage.
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For a kid from Itta Bena to play in a $300 million arena like the Moody Center? That’s the dream. MVSU coach George Ivory has one of the hardest jobs in the country, constantly playing road games against giants to keep the lights on. Even in a 46-point loss, those minutes against SEC-level talent are valuable for a roster that spends most of its season on a bus.
Looking Ahead for Both Programs
Since that matchup, Texas has had a bit of a rollercoaster ride in their first season in the SEC. They’ve had big wins against teams like Kentucky and Texas A&M, but they've also struggled with consistency. The ms valley vs texas game was a blueprint for what they can be when they move the ball and play elite defense.
As for Mississippi Valley State, they continue to be the ultimate road warriors. They played Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas State, and Utah all in the same stretch. It’s a brutal schedule designed to toughen them up for SWAC play.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're following these teams, keep an eye on these specific developments:
- Watch Tre Johnson's Efficiency: His ability to score without high volume is what will make Texas a threat in the NCAA Tournament.
- Monitor MVSU in Conference Play: They often struggle in the non-conference "money games" but become much more competitive once they start playing schools with similar budgets in the SWAC.
- Check the Free Throw Line: In the Texas game, they shot 36 free throws. If they can keep getting to the line that often, they'll be able to grind out wins against tougher SEC opponents.
The reality of ms valley vs texas is that it wasn't a rivalry—it was a lesson in modern college athletics. One team used it to break records, and the other used it to survive another season.